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jiàn 见 lì 利 wàng 忘 yì 义

见利忘义 jiàn lì wàng yì

to forsake principle for profit; mercenary

Literally: see profit forget righteousness

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Origin

From the Hanshu (Fan Li Teng Guan Fu Jin Zhou Zhuan): 夫卖友者,谓见利而忘义也 — to sell out a friend is to see profit and forget righteousness.

How to use it

Predicate or attributive; strongly negative. Often 见利忘义的小人.

Example sentences

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  1. 他为了一笔生意出卖了老朋友，实在是见利忘义。
    Tā wèile yì bǐ shēngyi chūmài le lǎo péngyou, shízài shì jiàn lì wàng yì.
    He sold out an old friend for a business deal; he truly put profit before principle.
    he in order to one (measure) business betray (aspect particle) old friend, really is see profit forget righteousness
  2. 商家如果见利忘义，出售假冒伪劣商品，终将失去消费者的信任。
    Shāngjiā rúguǒ jiàn lì wàng yì, chūshòu jiǎmào wěiliè shāngpǐn, zhōng jiāng shīqù xiāofèizhě de xìnrèn.
    If merchants forsake principle for profit and sell counterfeit goods, they will ultimately lose consumers' trust.
    merchant if see profit forget righteousness, sell counterfeit shoddy goods, finally will lose consumer (attributive particle) trust

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